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Ford · Known Issues

2013 Ford F-350 Problems: 6 Known Issues

2013 model year · 430+ owner reports · Updated September 2026

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Issue summary

According to Au7o's analysis of 430+ owner reports, the 2013 Ford F-350 has 6 documented known issues, with 3 rated critical. The most serious are 6.7L Power Stroke Turbocharger Bearing and Actuator Failure ($500-$3,500 repair), 6.7L Power Stroke EGR Cooler Cracking and Coolant Loss ($1,500-$3,500 repair) and Death Wobble - Violent Steering Oscillation ($200-$1,500 repair). The most commonly reported issue is 6.7L Power Stroke Turbocharger Bearing and Actuator Failure with 230 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $200 to $4,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.

In This Article

  • F-350 Engine2
  • F-350 Emissions1
  • F-350 Steering1
  • F-350 Drivetrain1
  • F-350 Body/Panels1
  • FAQ
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In This Article

  • Engine2
  • Emissions1
  • Steering1
  • Drivetrain1

All 6 Known Issues

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Community reported
230 owners

On the 2011-2019 Ford F-350 6.7L Power Stroke, the 6.7L Power Stroke turbocharger's variable geometry vanes stick from soot buildup, and the turbo actuator motor fails, causing limp mode and reduced power. Extended idle time and short-trip driving accelerate soot accumulation on the VGT vanes.

This issue also affects: Ford Bronco Sport, Ford F-150, Ford F-250 Super Duty

Common Symptoms

  • Reduced power / limp mode
  • Black smoke on acceleration
  • Turbo lag worse than normal
  • Check engine light
  • Whistling or squealing from turbo
  • Boost pressure low

How to Fix

Clean the VGT vanes if caught early. Replace the turbo actuator if the motor has failed. In severe cases, the entire turbocharger must be replaced. Regular highway driving helps keep the vanes clean through higher exhaust temperatures.

Typical repair cost:$500 - $3,500

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Based on 230 owner reports

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Community Reported
High Confidence230 owner reportsLast reported by owners Mar 2026Reviewed Mar 2026
Community reported
200 owners

On the 2011-2016 Ford F-350 6.2L Boss V8, the 6.2L gas V8 in the F-350 develops cam phaser rattle on startup as the phaser locking pins wear. Additionally, the exhaust manifold studs break due to thermal cycling, causing an exhaust leak. Both issues worsen progressively.

This issue also affects: Ford Edge, Ford Expedition, Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Common Symptoms

  • Rattle on cold startup lasting 1-5 seconds
  • Ticking from exhaust manifold area
  • Exhaust smell in cab
  • Rough idle when cold
  • Power loss at low RPM
  • Exhaust leak sound worse when cold

How to Fix

For cam phasers: replace both phasers, timing chains, and solenoids. For exhaust manifold studs: extract broken studs and install upgraded stainless steel studs. Both jobs are labor-intensive due to engine bay size.

Typical repair cost:$500 - $2,500

Research This Issue

Based on 200 owner reports

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Community Reported
High Confidence200 owner reportsLast reported by owners Mar 2026Reviewed Mar 2026

On the 2011-2016 Ford F-350 6.7L Power Stroke V8 diesel, the 2011-2016 F-350's 6.7L Power Stroke uses a dual EGR cooling arrangement - a primary cooler plus a secondary cooler section - and both are subjected to thermal cycling between roughly 1,200 F exhaust gas and 200 F coolant. Repeated expansion and contraction fatigues the cooler cores and they crack internally, letting coolant into the exhaust stream. Owners see gradual coolant loss with no external leak, white sweet-smelling smoke (most obvious on a warm restart or under acceleration), and eventually overheating. Trucks that idle for long periods or tow heavy - the typical F-350 dually or chassis cab duty cycle - fail earliest. A common repeat-failure trap is replacing only the primary cooler and leaving the second cooler in place, which sends the truck back in within tens of thousands of miles.

This issue also affects: Ford Bronco, Ford Bronco Sport, Ford E-Series

Common Symptoms

  • Unexplained coolant loss
  • White sweet-smelling exhaust smoke on warm restart or under throttle
  • Rough cold start
  • Overheating while towing
  • Low coolant warning with no visible leak

How to Fix

Diagnose with a cooling system pressure test and by checking for exhaust gas in the coolant; do not assume a head gasket before checking the EGR coolers. Replace both cooler sections together, along with the EGR valve if it is fouled, and flush the cooling system. Inspect the passenger-side cylinder head at the same time, as it can be cracked on early 2011-2012 engines presenting with the same coolant loss. There is no recall for the EGR cooler; some trucks were covered under the 5-year/100,000-mile diesel powertrain warranty when new.

Typical repair cost:$1,500 - $3,500

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Community Reported
Low ConfidenceVerifiedReviewed Aug 2026

On the 1999-2025 Ford F-350, after hitting a bump at highway speed, the front end enters violent steering oscillation (death wobble) that requires slowing to a stop to recover. Caused by worn front-end components: track bar bushing, ball joints, tie rod ends, or steering damper.

This issue also affects: Ford F-250

Common Symptoms

  • Violent steering wheel shaking after bump
  • Shaking stops when slowing down
  • Loose steering feel
  • Front end clunking

How to Fix

Inspect and replace all worn front-end components. The track bar bushing is the most common culprit. Replace the steering damper, ball joints, and tie rod ends as needed. An alignment is required after repairs.

Typical repair cost:$200 - $1,500

Research This Issue

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Community Reported
Medium Confidence

On the 1999-2016 Ford F-350, f-350 dually trucks run a full-floating Dana 80 rear axle whose hubs carry adjustable tapered inner and outer bearings with a seal riding on the innermost part of the spindle. Unlike a sealed unit bearing, this design is a maintenance item, and the loads a DRW F-350 carries - a pin weight applied well behind the cab by a gooseneck or fifth wheel, plus the extra outboard tire - make bearing preload and lubrication critical. Owners across ford-trucks.com and thedieselstop.com report the seal weeping gear oil onto the brakes, followed by a growl that changes with load, and eventually a spun or destroyed bearing. Gear oil reaching the rear brake friction is the safety consequence, on a truck that is already brake-limited when loaded.

Common Symptoms

  • Gear oil weeping from behind the rear dually hub
  • Growling or humming from the rear that changes with load
  • Wheel play at the rear hub
  • Oil-contaminated rear brakes
  • Overheated hub after a tow

How to Fix

Pull the hubs and inspect at the service interval, especially before a heavy towing season. Replace both inner and outer bearings and the seal as a set, and set preload correctly - torque the outer nut to spec while rotating, then back it off the specified number of clicks per the Ford procedure; overtightening cooks the bearings and undertightening lets the hub walk. Repack with the correct gear lube and inspect the brake friction for oil contamination, replacing it if any is present. Bearings are commonly serviced in the 80,000-150,000 mile window, sooner on trucks that tow at weight or run oversized tires and offset wheels. No recall covers this.

Typical repair cost:$300 - $1,200

Research This Issue

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Community Reported
Low ConfidenceVerifiedReviewed Aug 2026

On the 1999-2016 Ford F-350, the 1999-2016 Super Duty cab has a double-wall rocker and cab-corner structure that traps water and road debris and rots from the inside out. On the F-350 the pattern is worse than on lighter trucks for two structural reasons: dual rear wheels throw far more salt spray and grit up onto the rear arches and cab corners than a single-rear-wheel truck, and F-350s spend disproportionate time in plow, farm and construction service where the truck is wet and salted constantly. Failure shows first as bubbling paint at the bottom of the cab corner behind the door, then perforation at the rocker seam and the rear wheel arch on the bed. Because the inner rocker is part of the cab structure, extensive rot is a structural and inspection problem, not just cosmetic.

Common Symptoms

  • Bubbling paint at the bottom of the cab corner behind the door
  • Perforated rocker panel below the door
  • Rust through at the rear wheel arch of the bed
  • Water on the cab floor from a rotted rocker seam
  • Flaking rust visible behind the plastic rocker molding

How to Fix

Catch it early: pull the plastic rocker trim, clean out the drain holes at the bottom of the rocker and cab corner, and treat the cavity with a cavity wax or oil-based rustproofing every year in salt states. Repair is done with weld-in outer cab corner and rocker panels (and inner rocker panels where the structure is gone), which are widely available for 1999-2016 Super Duty in regular, super and crew cab; composite bolt-on panels exist for owners who want a non-welded repair. Filler over perforated metal will bubble back within a season. No recall or corrosion campaign covers this.

Typical repair cost:$800 - $4,000

Research This Issue

GoogleRedditYouTubeNHTSA
Community Reported
Medium ConfidenceVerifiedReviewed Aug 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Ford F-350 problems?

According to Au7o's analysis of 430+ owner reports, the 2013 Ford F-350 has 6 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: 6.7L Power Stroke Turbocharger Bearing and Actuator Failure, 6.7L Power Stroke EGR Cooler Cracking and Coolant Loss, Death Wobble - Violent Steering Oscillation. Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.

Is the Ford F-350 reliable?

The 2013 Ford F-350 has 6 known issues documented across 430+ owner reports. 3 issues are rated critical: 6.7L Power Stroke Turbocharger Bearing and Actuator Failure and 6.7L Power Stroke EGR Cooler Cracking and Coolant Loss and Death Wobble - Violent Steering Oscillation. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.

How much does it cost to fix common Ford F-350 problems?

Repair costs for known Ford F-350 issues range from $200 to $4,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, 6.7L Power Stroke Turbocharger Bearing and Actuator Failure, typically costs $500-$3,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.

What is the 2011-2019 Ford F-350 6.7L Power Stroke Turbocharger Bearing and Actuator Failure?

The 6.7L Power Stroke turbocharger's variable geometry vanes stick from soot buildup, and the turbo actuator motor fails, causing limp mode and reduced power. Extended idle time and short-trip driving accelerate soot accumulation on the VGT vanes. Repairs typically run $500-$3,500. Severity: high.

What is the 2011-2016 Ford F-350 6.7L Power Stroke EGR Cooler Cracking and Coolant Loss?

The 2011-2016 F-350's 6.7L Power Stroke uses a dual EGR cooling arrangement - a primary cooler plus a secondary cooler section - and both are subjected to thermal cycling between roughly 1,200 F exhaust gas and 200 F coolant. Repeated expansion and contraction fatigues the cooler… Repairs typically run $1,500-$3,500. Severity: high.

Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.

Data sourced from 430+ owner reports, NHTSA recalls, TSBs, and automotive forums.

Body/Panels
1
  • FAQ

    • What is the 1999-2025 Ford F-350 Death Wobble - Violent Steering Oscillation?

    After hitting a bump at highway speed, the front end enters violent steering oscillation (death wobble) that requires slowing to a stop to recover. Caused by worn front-end components: track bar bushing, ball joints, tie rod ends, or steering damper. Repairs typically run $200-$1,500. Severity: high.

    What is the 2011-2016 Ford F-350 6.2L Boss V8 Cam Phaser Rattle and Exhaust Manifold Studs?

    The 6.2L gas V8 in the F-350 develops cam phaser rattle on startup as the phaser locking pins wear. Additionally, the exhaust manifold studs break due to thermal cycling, causing an exhaust leak. Both issues worsen progressively. Repairs typically run $500-$2,500. Severity: medium.

    What is the 1999-2016 Ford F-350 Dual-Rear-Wheel Rear Axle Bearing and Seal Failure on F-350 DRW (Dana 80 Full-Float)?

    F-350 dually trucks run a full-floating Dana 80 rear axle whose hubs carry adjustable tapered inner and outer bearings with a seal riding on the innermost part of the spindle. Unlike a sealed unit bearing, this design is a maintenance item, and the loads a DRW F-350 carries - a p… Repairs typically run $300-$1,200. Severity: medium.

    What is the 1999-2016 Ford F-350 Cab Corner, Rocker Panel and Rear Wheel Arch Rust-Through?

    The 1999-2016 Super Duty cab has a double-wall rocker and cab-corner structure that traps water and road debris and rots from the inside out. On the F-350 the pattern is worse than on lighter trucks for two structural reasons: dual rear wheels throw far more salt spray and grit u… Repairs typically run $800-$4,000. Severity: medium.